this is bbc news. i'm lukwesa burak with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. the search continues for hundreds of people still missing, following devastating floods in germany and other european countries. the german president has been visiting one of the worst hit areas. translation: our country stands together during this time. - i'm very pleased to see just how much sympathy and solidarity is being shown, not only here in the region but also throughout germany. the uk's health secretary, sajid javid, tests positive for coronavirus. he's self—isolating at home, as the government prepares to lift its legal restrictions. a new round of peace talks gets under way in qatar between afghan leaders and the taliban. both sides are said to be positive.

the film that won the palme d'or is titane... wait, wait, wait, don't! and nervous laughter in cannes, as the director spike lee accidentally lets slip the name of the winner of the palme d'or. hello and welcome to bbc news. rescue crews have been racing to find survivors of floods that have wreaked havoc across western europe, killing at least 170 people. hundreds are feared missing after record rainfall triggered severe floods in germany and belgium. european leaders have blamed the extreme weather on climate change. chancellor angela merkel is due to visit affected areas on sunday. with more, here's our berlin correspondentjenny hill.

in ahrweiler, everything, everyone, is covered in a thick, sticky mud. there is no power, nowhere to buy food, not much mobile reception. but they're doing what they can. willie told us they've never seen anything like it here, not even in his parents', grandparents�*, time. "the water rose two metres in 15 or 20 minutes," he told us. "people tried to save their things, went on to their basements, and unfortunately got trapped. i was lucky," he said, "i could get out the back of my basement." around 100 people have died in this district alone. many more are still missing. there was so little time to run, people tell us. look at the force of this flood. and the damage it left behind. the water's receding, but the number of dead is expected

to continue to rise. search and rescue, it's feared, will soon be a recovery operation. today, the german president described the loss as heartbreaking. translation: it's a time of misery, and at times of misery, _ our country sticks together. i'm glad that people, notjust here in the region but from all over germany, send messages of sympathy and solidarity. so many people just want to help, donations piling up, overwhelming the volunteers at this makeshift warehouse. translation: i can't imagine what it must be like to be affected. - that's why i'm here, to help people. in ahrweiler, across the region, lives turned upside down. this is amelie. "the water," she told us, "came from the playground to our house, but luckilyjust the ground floor. my gran and grandad were affected, though. they're staying with us now."

as the waters slowly subside, they reveal the extent of the damage done. the task of rebuilding this region seems overwhelming, so much of its vital infrastructure — bridges, roads, railways — has completely gone. hard to imagine the time, the money it'll take to get this region back on its feet. jenny hill, bbc news, ahrweiler. the uk health secretary, sajid javid, is self—isolating after testing positive for coronavirus. mrjavid, who's fully vaccinated, said he'd felt a "bit groggy" on friday night. it's understood he met the prime minister on friday, but it's not yet clear whether boris johnson will have to self—isolate. it comes just ahead of the government lifting covid restrictions in england on monday. the decision to keep quarantine rules in place for people returning to england,

wales or scotland from france — even if they are fully vaccinated — has been heavily criticised by travel firms. 0ur political correspondent nick eardley reports. downing street yesterday. the health secretary outside number 10, facemask in hand, but this morning he tested positive for coronavirus. i was feeling a bit groggy last night so i took a lateral flow test this morning and it has come out positive, so i am now self—isolating at home with my family until i get the results of a pcr test. i'm grateful that i have had two jabs of the vaccine and so far my symptoms are mild. this was sajid javid at a care home on tuesday, four days before his symptoms develop. it's not clear yet if anyone else in government will have to self—isolate as a close contact. it comes ahead of a crucial week. from monday, social distancing will officially end in england. there will be no limits at events. facemasks won't be a legal requirement.

but there were more than 5a,000 cases in the last 24—hour period. some are warning we shouldn't be too relaxed, pointing to countries like israel, where some restrictions have been brought back. if we behave like they have done and change our behaviour too dramatically when the restrictions are changed, then we're going to end up having to do what they're having to do now, which is reconsider reimposing restrictions. next week will be a significant moment in the sometimes slow road out of lockdown in england, but it will not be back to normality overnight. face coverings will still be recommended in some places and there will still be an emphasis on caution. and the number of positive cases we're seeing, like the health secretary's, is a reminder that even if many restrictions are going, the virus hasn't disappeared. for tourists returning from paris and the rest of france, some changes have already been delayed. double—jabbed people were supposed to be spared quarantine,

but last night, the government announced that wouldn't be happening. that's left some in the travel industry frustrated. whilst public health will always be a priority, it does not feel like it's the right thing to do to hold the uk back when other countries are travelling in their abundance. frustration shared by tourists leaving london this morning. i'm trying my hardest to follow the rules, but i don't understand the rules, so i don't know. at this point, i'm going on my holiday and whatever happens happens. it's just constantly changing. it actually feels more political than anything else. it's very confusing. i think everything is really badly handled. in wales today, restrictions on meeting outside were lifted. across the uk, there are more freedoms on their way, but that isn't without risk. nick eardley, bbc news. the uk has recorded over 50,000 new covid cases for a second consecutive day. scientists and medical experts have expressed concern at the relaxation

of covid rules while cases are clearly rising. it comes as the government announced an extension to the flu vaccination programme this winter, expected to be delivered alongside any booster jabs for covid—i9. here's anna collinson. it's the birthplace of the ashes. but this weekend, the oval cricket ground has become one of many pop—up vaccine hubs, and one of those in line was surrey cricketerjordan clarke. with significant freedoms for england and scotland less than two days away, there is another push for people to get theirjab. we started the clinic eight o'clock in the morning, as normal, we had a bit of a rush eight o'clock, but now there is a steady flow of people. we're doing roughly 400 people every hour. as expected, as restrictions have eased over recent months and more people have come together, infections have risen.

the big difference this time, though, is the vaccine, which has helped to reduce the threat of covid, though not eliminate it. it's those hospital admissions that are causing real concern at the moment. and the projections of how high they could go are quite alarming. so it's not the situation we wanted to be in. we didn't want to be opening up, really, in quite a dramatic way at a time when we have so many infections. but other scientists feel more confident about this wave, pointing to the data, which shows fewer people have become seriously ill and those that are are in hospital for less time. amid fears the double threat of covid and the flu could put intense pressure on the health service this winter, free flu vaccines will be offered to more than 35 million people in england. this includes expanding the programme to include pupils up to year 11. it finally feels as if we are giving

priority to educational continuity for those young people, so they can start september with a sense that the adults in the room are doing everything they can to look after them. 0n the hottest day on record in northern ireland, people in newry in county down waited patiently for a vaccine. hoping to get the vaccine, to try and cure covid, like, you know? i think everyone at this stage wants it to go on, like, so i may as well play my part. as people queued forjabs around the uk, england's deputy chief medical officer, jonathan van—tam, predicted a bumpy winter ahead. how bumpy it becomes, he says, will depend on our behaviour. anna collinson, bbc news. let's take at some of the day's other news now from around the world. and iran says international talks on its nuclear programme will now have to wait until after the new president, ebrahim raisi, has taken office next month. tehran also said the us and britain must stop linking the deal to a prisoner exchange. several rounds of talks have been held in vienna without a breakthrough. thousands of people have been protesting in france

against new rules which will oblige health workers to be vaccinated against coronavirus. the restrictions also mean that people will need to show either a vaccine health pass or a negative covid test to enter public places including restaurants. since the rules were announced on monday, a record number of people have booked appointments to be vaccinated. the annual hajj pilgrimmage is getting under way in mecca with a reduced number of participants. only 60,000 people will be taking part because of covid restrictions. in normal years, around 2.5 million muslims from across the world would visit the holiest sites of islam in mecca and medina, a pilgrimage which all muslims are expected to make at least once in their lifetimes. high—level talks have begun between afghan political leaders and the taliban in the gulf state of qatar. the negotiations are an effort

tojump—start a long—stalled process in the midst of rapid taliban military advances across afghanistan and growing concern about the country's future in the wake of the us—led nato pull—out. afghan government sources say the talks have got off to a good start. 0ur chief international correspondent, lyse doucet, is in doha, where she's been speaking to the key players on both sides. these high—level talks are taking place in the midst of growing uncertainty and anxiety about afghanistan's future. afghan government negotiators say they are acutely aware that the window for peace talks is fast narrowing, perhaps a question ofjust two to three months. because the backdrop, of course, is that the taliban have been overrunning districts across afghanistan and seizing strategic order crossings. so i asked the minister of state for peace,

sayed sadat mansoor naderi, did he believe after talking to the taliban again here that they were interested in a political solution? well, we hope so, because the only solution to the conflict in afghanistan is political solution, is through meaningful negotiation, and conflict and taking afghanistan by force is not the solution. it will not be acceptable to the people of afghanistan. afg hanistan�*s state minister for peace. but of course that is a question for the taliban too, because it's been noticed that as they make rapid military advances, it's emboldened them and they become clearer about their political vision for afghanistan. and it's one, judging by their ideas now on the table, one which doesn't include elections and has a new islamic constitution as well as leadership, which, of course, for the afghan government team means that accepting those proposals is tantamount

to a call for surrender. so i asked the member of the taliban negotiating team, their spokesman suhail shaheen, whether that was the spirit of these talks. that is a perception of the other side, not our policy. our policy is to have a negotiated settlement of the issue. that is our policy. we want this, because in that circumstance, we can then bring a durable peace to the country. that is our objective. suhail shaheen, the taliban's spokesperson. well, both sides say the talks today here in doha have got off to a good start. what they're hoping is that these discussions can help both sides to clarify their positions and that they will lead to another round of talks involving even more high—level figures on both sides to try to push this negotiation forward.

because everyone is aware, most of all afghans on the ground as well as afghanistan's neighbours, that if these talks fail, the war will get worse. that was leased doucet there in doha —— lyse doucet. this is bbc news. the latest headlines: rescue crews are still searching for survivors of the torrential flooding which swept through germany, belgium and the netherlands. at least 170 people are known to have died. the uk's health secretary, sajid javid, is experiencing "mild" symptoms after testing positive for covid. now to cuba, where the president, miguel diaz—canel, has dismissed last week's historic demonstrations against the communist government as a lie. thousands took to the streets of havana and other cities last weekend, demanding freedom, democracy and more covid vaccinations. more than 100 people have been arrested since the protests erupted. the president had earlier

accused the us of provoking the demonstrations. speaking at a pro—government rally in havana, mr diaz—canel denounced what he said was a "false narrative" over unrest on the caribbean island. translation: we have come together to once again - denounce the us blockade, aggression and terror. we couldn't put off this rally. the enemy has once again gone all out to destroy the sacred unity and peace of citizens. they are encouraging and glorifying disrespect and the discretion of property, threats and harassment of citizens and families. right now, what the world is seeing from cuba is a lie. well, demonstrators have gathered outside the white house in washington, calling on the us to intervene in cuba. it's the latest in a series of demonstrations by americans in a show of solidarity following the unprecedented protests on the island.

florida, which has a large community of cuban exiles, has seen the biggest gatherings. now, the american government is investigating a series of health incidents involving its diplomats and other administration staff in the austrian capital vienna. more than 20 officials have reported symptoms similar to havana syndrome — a mystery brain illness — since presidentjoe biden took office injanuary. the syndrome is unexplained, but american scientists say it is most likely to be caused by directed microwave radiation. it was first found in cuba in 2016—17. us and canadian diplomats in havana complained of symptoms ranging from dizziness, loss of balance, hearing loss and anxiety to something they described as "cognitive fog".

intriguing. let's find out more. i'm joined now by soo kim, a former cia analyst now with the rand corporation in washington. soo kim, thank you forjoining us this evening on bbc news. first off, what is your take on this story? so i what is your take on this story? sr i think for people who do what is your take on this story? srs i think for people who do not have the intel background, this may seem to be very suspicious or something thatis to be very suspicious or something that is not really, does not merit the attention, because we tend to focus on things that have empirical evidence, and in this case i should mention it is a mysterious illness that cannot really be pinpointed evidentially to anything that is scientific, so the catch here is that, from the intel analyst perspective, the fact that this is conducted in such a way that is not detectable but it is a way for them to, for the russians, to extract

information, but it is also way for them to inflict bodily harm upon us officials, diplomats and operatives operating really world of. 300 officials, diplomats and operatives operating really world of. soo kim, ou said operating really world of. soo kim, you said that _ operating really world of. soo kim, you said that russia, _ operating really world of. soo kim, you said that russia, so _ operating really world of. soo kim, you said that russia, so is - operating really world of. soo kim, you said that russia, so is that - you said that russia, so is that were the figures being blamed? and why russia? the were the figures being blamed? and wh russia? were the figures being blamed? and why russia?— why russia? the united states has not clipping _ why russia? the united states has not clipping pointed _ why russia? the united states has not clipping pointed russia, - why russia? the united states has not clipping pointed russia, per. why russia? the united states has| not clipping pointed russia, per se, as the culprit, but the state department came out with a report earlier this year or last year that said these radiation waves, including microwaves, are likely causing american diplomats to have these symptoms and the report also said that the attacks, they mentioned the attacks and they also said that the russians have actually conducted studies and research on this topic, so it is not like we are saying that it is the russians are the exact culprits, but the fact that there were studies done and there subnetworks and suspicious activity by the russians lead the

united states to suspect and to assume that the russians might be conducting operations there. this is . uite conducting operations there. this is quite concerning, _ conducting operations there. this is quite concerning, isn't _ conducting operations there. this is quite concerning, isn't it? - conducting operations there. this is quite concerning, isn't it? becausel quite concerning, isn't it? because dna is a safe space, it is neutral? —— vienna. you have huge organisations like the un to our base there as well. why on earth are they using microwave technology? what is it, just to hurt? you what is it, 'ust to hurt? you mentioned— what is it, just to hurt? you mentioned that _ what is it, just to hurt? you mentioned that vienna - what is it, just to hurt? you mentioned that vienna is i what is it, just to hurt? yfrl. mentioned that vienna is a safe place, but it is actually one of the largest cia stations in the world, but if you think about it, the fact that it has such an international presence, notjust the united states but all these separate organisations, makes it a really attractive destination for adversaries at the russians, like the chinese and other countries, to conduct intel operations and to extract tentative information and also, in this case, to try to harm and to get in the way of foreign

policy objectives of the united states in other countries. qm. policy objectives of the united states in other countries. ok, soo kim, thank _ states in other countries. ok, soo kim. thank you — states in other countries. ok, soo kim, thank you very _ states in other countries. ok, soo kim, thank you very much - states in other countries. ok, soo kim, thank you very much for- states in other countries. ok, soo| kim, thank you very much for that. what's more questions, but we've run out of time. fascinating subject. thank you. —— lots more questions. facebook has hit back at president biden�*s assertion that the spread of covid—19 misinformation on social media is "killing people". the social media platform defended itself saying facebook is not the reason the president's goal of getting 70% of americans vaccinated by the fourth ofjuly was missed. here's what the president had to say to the press before he boarded marine 0ne yesterday. what is your matt — your —— your message to platform like facebook? they are killing people. the only pandemic we have is among the unvaccinated, and they are killing — the unvaccinated, and they are killing people. that was president biden on friday.

facebook integrity vice president guy rosen has posted a response today on a corporate blog. he said that... he went on to say that... a film about a serial killer has won the prize for the best picture at this year's cannes film festival. all the stars and the directors returned in droves to the french riviera, after the 2020 festival was cancelled because of the covid pandemic. however, the climax of the closing ceremony went a little bit wrong, when the director spike lee accidentally announced the winner of the coveted palme d'0r ahead of time. this is what happened.

can you tell me which prize is the first prize? yes, ican. laughter cool the film that won the palme d'0r is titane... wait, wait, wait, no! she speaks french ok, so... she speaks french bbc talking movies reporter emma jones is in cannes with more on that incident and the winning film. you sort of see what happened. and there was a lot of confusion amongst the press corps at first, going, "what on earth has spike leejust announced?" but it's very clear that they did ask him what the first movie was, and so you can... either he was handed the wrong envelope or he did literally say what the winning movie was and it went that way. and i suppose it's made for a wonderful viral clip,

which is currently going around the world, publicising the cannes film festival and the movie titane and spike lee, so it's not all bad publicity, but it's certainly a moment probably to rival that 0scar moonlight/la la land moment? do you remember that a few years ago? and, yeah, it rarely happens in film, but i think everyone's taking it very lightly. and somebody did say, actually, that because that was out of the way so quickly, everybody could just relax and enjoy the evening, actually, because we knew what had won! well, emma, i mean, slightly lost in translation there, clearly, but tell us, then, about this winning movie. because everyone now is going to find out what it's all about. and shock and delight and many other adjectives coming to mind. titane is the most talked about film at cannes this year. and for me personally, it's wonderful. it's by a female director,

becausejulia ducournau has become the second woman ever to win the palme d'0r, which is cinema's most prestigious prize. the first and only so far, until tonight, was jane campion with the piano in the early �*90s. sojulia ducournau made a real splash with this, her second feature film, and it's one of those movies where when i came out of seeing it a few nights ago, it was brilliantjust to be so thoroughly confused, open—mouthed, going, "what have ijust seen?" i've really missed those days, because of course the cinemas have been closed for nearly 18 months in so many countries around the world. it is, as you mentioned, about a female serial killer, and it's very gory, it's very violent, there's a lot of nudity and there's lots of very interesting, provoking questions about gender as well, whichjulia, when i spoke to her a few days ago, said that she did want to have a discussion. so it's got all the ingredients of a hit film. it's being sold around the world. it's released in france, if not this weekend, then very, very shortly,

so i'm sure the makers are absolutely delighted with this win. emma jones there. you are watching bbc news. hello there. saturday saw the warmest weather of the year so far in all four nations of the uk. and in northern ireland, whereas you can see it was beach weather in county down, temperatures actually broke the all—time record. the highest temperature since records began in northern ireland, ballywatticock 31.2 degrees. but in england, in wales and in scotland, we saw some pretty hot temperatures. however, the far north of scotland was much, much cooler, just 13 degrees for parts of shetland, whereas you can see we had a lot of cloud. you can pick that out on the satellite picture through saturday afternoon. and that cloud has been pushing a little further south—westwards, so starting off sunday morning,

rather cloudy and murky for parts of northern ireland. quite a lot of cloud for scotland, too, with some patchy rain in the far north. the cloud should tend to break up to give some spells of sunshine, although it will stay quite murky for some northern coasts of northern ireland. i think england and wales will see the lion's share of the sunshine, and that's where we'll have the highest temperatures as well. slightly cooler day for scotland and northern ireland. for england and wales, particularly down towards the south, we're looking at highs of 30, possibly 31 degrees in the london area. and the sun very, very strong at the moment, very high uv levels in southern england, parts of wales. the lower levels further north only because we'll have more in the way of cloud. so, as we head through sunday evening and into the early hours of monday, we keep clear spells, especially across england and wales. still more cloud at times across scotland and northern ireland, some mist and murk. and it will be another very warm and muggy night. 0vernight lows between 12—17 degrees. so, we start monday with high pressure still in charge, but notice the centre of the high is slipping a little further westwards. that will allow a very gentle north or north—westerly flow

of air across the country. and that'll bring just a subtle change in the temperatures, a slightly cooler day for many, a bit more cloud working into north sea coasts as well. some cloud for north west scotland, parts of northern ireland, and you'll see maybe just the odd shower, the odd sharp shower breaking out across southern areas. those temperatures a little down, still quite warm in the south. a little bit cooler further north. as we look further ahead, there is a lot of dry weather on offer this week. still some relatively high temperatures. it mayjust start to turn a bit more unsettled by friday.

this is bbc news. the headlines — the search continues in germany and elsewhere for hundreds of people still missing following devastating floods. the health secretary, sajid javid, is isolating at home after testing positive for coronavirus. a new round of afghan peace talks has got under way in qatar between afghan leaders and the taliban. both sides have sounded a note of cautious optimism. 0lympics organisers have announced the first case of coronavirus in the athletes' village six days before the start of the tokyo games.